From 620 to 710 - I need your help!

Question

Hello Everyone,

today I took my first GMAT exam and scored 620 (Q 44, V 31) and IR 8. My goal is to score 710 (Q 50, V 37). 
My preparation so far looked like this:

- GMAT OG (I went through all questions) 
- Took my 1st GMAT Prep exam: 640 (Q 47, V 31)
- Started with Magoosh: Went through the Quant tutorials
- Took my 2nd GMAT Prep exam: 690 (Q 47, V 37) - felt quite confident 
- Studied the Magoosh questions (around 150 Quant and Verbal) 
- One week after my 2nd GMAT Prep exam I took my 3rd: 570 (Q 42, V 27) - the panic started 
- Studied another 150 questions each and repeated the incorrect old ones
- Took my 4th and last GMAT Prep exam (this time from Magoosh): 580 (Q 38, V 32)

Now I do not know how I should continue... Do you have any suggestions? (Books, courses, Prep exams etc.)

I am feeling that I have problems with the pressure of taking the exam... Today when I started with quant I was not able to answer the first questions so I started with a bad feeling which got even worse when I felt that the questions became quite easy...

Thank you very much in advance!!!

Best, 
Robin

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Robin,

Before I can offer you the specific advice that you’re looking for, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How long have you studied? How many hours were you consistently studying each week?
2) Did you take the FULL practice CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)/

Goals:
3) When are you planning to retake the GMAT?
4) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
5) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

TomRobinH · Answer

Hi Rich, 
1) I started studying last year (but not very consequently - just a few hours a week in the OG). In February I started my real preparation which included around 10-15 hours a week on average for 8 weeks (I did an internship at this time so I did not have a lot of time to study) 
2) I took the full exam but without the essay/IR section
3) I want to retake the exam in 4 weeks. If my score is not sufficient then, I will retake the exam after my current semester so around October. 
4) My application deadline end in November this year
5) I am thinking about applying at HEC Paris, EDHEC etc. 
Best, 
Robin

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Robin,

Many Test Takers spend 3 months (or more) of consistent study time before they hit their 'peak' scores. From what you've described, you studied for about 2 months and weren't necessarily consistent about that study. This is meant to say that it's likely that you just have not put in enough time and effort to hit your Score Goal yet. Raising a 620 to a 710+ will likely take at least another 2 months of consistent, guided study - and you'll have to make significant improvements to how you handle BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections. As such, you might want to consider pushing back your Test Date.

In addition, early last week, GMAC made a formal announcement defining some changes that will be taking place to the format of the Official GMAT (beginning April 16, 2018). These changes primarily impact the overall length of the Exam (meaning the number of questions in the Quant and Verbal sections as well as the amount of time that you’ll have to complete each of those two sections). In theory, a shorter Exam could make it easier for a well-prepared Test Taker to score higher. Unfortunately, practice CATs in the new 'format' don't exist yet - but once they become available, you should plan to take one (so that we can get a better sense of how you perform under these new conditions).

I'm hoping that you can clarify something from your post - if you don't retake the GMAT in 4 weeks, are you going to stop your GMAT studies completely until later on this year (around October)?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

TomRobinH · Answer

Hi Rich, 
thank you again for your message! 
If the score in 4 weeks is not sufficient I would not stop my studies completely but reduce it to 5-10 hours a week because of my exams in university and so on. 
Best,
Robin

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Robin,

Considering all of the areas that you need to work on - the Quant and Verbal work AND the 'exam pressure' that you feel - the goal to raise your score 90+ points in just 4 weeks is likely too difficult to be considered realistic (and you will likely end up having to spend an additional $250 to retest later). You would have a far better chance of hitting your Goal Score in 2 months (even with the decrease in study time later) IF you were to commit to a reasonable Study Plan and focused on learning and practicing the proper Tactics. There's no harm in taking the GMAT in 4 weeks, but the Study Plans and advice that I would offer would be based on a slightly longer study timeframe.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

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